Page 19 of Rules

"I came up with it, so I can use it." Our eyes met. "I mean, if you like it."

"Like it? I love it, just love it," she must have realized what she said because her cheeks quickly turned red. She spun around and returned to her side of the table.

We sat looking at each other for a few minutes until I broke the silence, "I know your uncle, he's a nice guy. Do your parents live here too?" I ask, realizing how little I know about her.

"No, both my parents were killed in a car accident. A drunk ran into them. Unfortunately, the drunk was driving a semi, instantly killing them both." There's no self-pity in her voice, just the matter-of-fact tone of someone who's made peace with tragedy.

"Damn. I'm sorry to hear that." Looking at Ruth, I notice a faraway look in her eyes, like she's caught in a memory. "Guess we both have suffered losses."

"Not a club anyone wants to be a part of, and yet one we all get initiated into at some point." Her wisdom catches me off guard. "However, I have to admit the hazing's a bitch."

"Isn't that the truth." I set down my bottle. "I'll be right back." Standing, I head for the bathroom, then to the bar for another round, the whole time thinking about how to shift the conversation to lighter ground.

As I set the drinks down on the table, Ruth giggles.

"Another two? I'm not going to be able to drive home." She laughs. "Shh, don't tell the sheriff, okay?"

I laughed, "We won't tell him, he's kind of an ass anyway. We'll get you an Uber. It'll be our secret." Sitting back down across from her, I watch as Ruth licks her lips as she lifts a bottle to her mouth.

Good Lord woman, have mercy.

"I love secrets." She says, her voice taking on a seductive quality that sends another round heat through my body. I've lost count of how many times I've had a physical reaction to her. "Something only two people know. In the whole big world," she puts her hands out wide, "only two people share it. That's all, only two."

"What if there are more than two in on the secret?" I ask, leaning closer. She slightly sways as she thinks my question over.

"Fine, fine, so something known only to a very tiny group." Laughing, she squeezes her pointer finger and thumb together, then takes a long swig of her drink. "Tell me, Mr. Tobias with a badge, tell me something about you that we can keep a secret between us." She points from me to her and back. "Just us, our secret, the two of us, not a small group." She points from me to her and back. "Let's have it."

Now there's an open invitation if I've ever heard one. A very dangerous invitation, provided I want it to be.

"I have to think. You go first." I put the ball back in her court, not trusting what might come out of my mouth.

"Hmm, I have to think too." Ruth looks off to the left, her chin in her hand. She turns her head back to look at me. "Ok, I got one. You ready? You have to keep this just between us, it's our secret. Promise?"

I nod my head in agreement.

"Ok, lean in here." She leans as far across the table as she can. I mimic her. "Ok, ok, listen up, here's the secret. Not once during intercourse have I ever had an orgasm. Nope, never, not once. The jack-asses I've been with always get off, but I'm left with nothing. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my toys. They do the job and I have quite a few vroom vrooms. But, you tell me, why do guys do that? Get off and not care if we do?" Taking another drink, she sits back and looks at me with anticipation, as if she genuinely wants my answer.

Fuck me! My mouth falls open at her confessional secret. I have to force myself to blink a couple of times to prevent myself from staring at her.

"Never?" My voice squeaks a little and I have to cough, "You've never?" She shakes her head and blinks. "I. Ah. Oh. I. Really? Tell your fast assed boyfriend to slow down." I empty my beer in one gulp, desperately needing the liquid courage.

"Don't have a boyfriend." She shook her head. "Haven't had one in three years, and the last one didn't last more than four dates. Yep, that's right, on date four, he announced that his mom made him pity date me. He said fat girls didn't turn him on so we were through."

Anger flares instantly. "Now that's messed up. He's an idiot, you're beautiful."

"HA! You're drunk." Ruth laughs, but I catch the flash of genuine surprise in her eyes. "Your turn." She leans forward again, "what's your secret?"

Shit, I was hoping she would have forgotten.

Taking in a large breath, I blow it all out in one long stream, stalling for time. I don't know if it's because of the beers—I'm not a big drinker and I've certainly had more than my normal tonight—or because she's so beautiful. Either way, I blurt out:

"Well, since we're sharing, my secret is I haven't slept with another woman since my wife died." There, that's my secret out in the open.

"Not one?" Her eyes widened in disbelief. "You?"

"Not one. No one turned me on until... recently." I stop talking. Taking a drink of my beer, I glance quickly at her.

"Wow, I thought you were going to say it was because you needed a pill or something." She looks at me, but her head is swaying back and forth. "I have to pee. Don't leave. We should talk more about little blue pills when I get back." Ruth stands, smooths down her dress, tosses her hair over her shoulder, heading in the wrong direction.

---